2018 Audi Q2 2.0TFSI quattro review

New range-topping city SUV offers more punch - at a price

EXPERT RATING

STARTING PRICE

$POA

BASIC SPEC

2018 Audi Q2 2.0TFSI quattro review

16 Nov 2017Andrew Maclean

Basic economics suggest you get more when you pay more.

And, on paper at least, that much is true of the newest member of Audi’s smallest SUV range. But the flagship Q2 2.0TFSI quattro sport – as it is officially known – also asks the question of whether it is worth the extra cost.

The range-topper fills out the Q2 line-up six months after the arrival of the entry-level front-drive petrol and mid-spec all-wheel drive diesel, which cost $41,100 and $47,900 (plus on-roads) respectively.

On top of those, the new model commands an even higher price tag, at $48,500 (plus on-roads) but comes equipped with a bigger, more powerful 2.0-litre turbo petrol four cylinder and channels the extra grunt to the ground through Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

More than just the engine, it has full body-coloured paint finish, LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-appointed interior trim, dual-zone climate control and a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen with sat nav, Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity.

2018 Audi Q2 2.0TFSI quattro sport Photo: supplied

On the safety front, it has automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, six airbags and basic electronic driving aids. But it can be optioned with additional features as part of the $990 Assistance Package that brings adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, active lane assist, blind spot monitoring, semi-automated parking and the AEB threshold is raised to 200km/h.

The options list doesn’t stop there either, with two exterior packages, optional adaptive dampers, lowered sports suspension, a selection of alloy wheel choices and myriad of personalisation options for the inside and outside of the car.

Considering most of that is also offered on the lower-grade models, the spotlight is on the bigger engine, which has been lifted out of the all-new A4 sedan, A5 coupe and Q5 SUV.

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Featuring an Atkinson-style combustion processs, with a shortened compression stroke to improve efficiency, the 2.0-litre unit produces 140kW and 320Nm while consuming a claimed average of 6.5L/100km. Coincidentally, it accelerates to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds.

Out in the real world, it doesn’t feel all that perkier than the 1.4-litre in the lower-grade model when driven normally, especially considering the seven-speed transmission quickly hunts for the tallest gear to save fuel.

However, when you dig deeper into its power reserves it reveals a stronger surge in the mid-range and a fizzier top-end when you really rev it out.

When you do so, on the right stretch of road, the Q2 is quite a fun and engaging little car to drive. While it sits higher than a conventional hatchback, it’s not as tall – and therefore as top-heavy – as a larger SUV, which means it slices through the corners with less body roll and more precision.

The taut suspension settings also contributes to its excellent body control, but it can feel a little jiggly over rough surfaces and there’s some impact harshness on big bumps.

The quattro all-wheel drive system does, however, provide a safety net of security on loose surfaces, working invisibly with the well-calibrated electronic stability system to offer excellent traction.

In all other aspects, the Q2 continues to play a unique role among the luxury brands as a small urban SUV. The cabin, however, belies its position with decent space, including plenty of headroom for all occupants, adequate legroom in the back for small families and a boot big enough to handle most duties.

Like the A3 on which it shares its fundamentals, the dashboard layout is both funky to look at and functional to use with good small item storage and the latest in connectivity.

It looks genuinely premium when fitted with the optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the multi-coloured ambient lighting that hides behind some of the trim elements adds a splash of colour to the cockpit.

But, in the end, choosing the Q2 2.0TFSI comes down to how much value you place on spending more for the flagship model.

The reality is, while it is tangibly better than the base-model, it’s not a quantum leap ahead of what is a brilliant, but already expensive, little city SUV.

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Drive Comments

Selector_ 2 | 16 Nov 2017 15:30

The review paints a somewhat mediocre picture of the price / value equation yet the final score adds up to 8/10 ? Despite having no numbers shown in the individual score categories i.e. Value, Resale, Servicing etc

The truth | 16 Nov 2017 18:47

Fact - the engine is VAG generic. Fact - the AWD system is VAG generic (available in Skoda and VW brands). Fact - the safety gear is sub par in the basic car, unless you cede to the gouging by VAG for items that are standard on vehicles from other marques at half the price. Fact - engine not that economical against peers, nor any more powerful, it just weighs more than a 1.4 turbo. What exactly are you paying a premium for, and as S_2 said how the hell does it end up with 8/10 with its stated drawbacks noted by the author?

Selector 2 | 17 Nov 2017 11:25

Selector_ 2 | 18 Nov 2017 14:45

Fact - Selector 2 is talking bulldust (what a surprise - not). How can a brand new model possibly have any reliability ranking ??? And BTW according to the mentioned brands that leaves a hell of a lot of other popular ones with an even lower ranking - Kia ???